Rating of the best brands of chocolate for 2024

Everyone loves chocolate, both children and adults. This is the best-selling delicacy in the world: more than 4 tons of this sweet is eaten per year. Today it is produced in many types for every taste - black, white, milk, with fruit and nut additives, for any gourmet there is a suitable option. The main thing is not to get confused in your choice in search of the best brand of chocolate.

Pedigree of chocolate

The "chocolate" tree, which provides raw materials for production, grows in the countries of Central and South America. This region is considered the birthplace of the cocoa tree. The useful qualities of beans were known in ancient times and were successfully used by the Mayan and Aztec tribes. They were used to make drinks with the addition of bitter pepper and spices. The seeds were pre-fried and ground. The chilled drink served as a kind of tonic, raising the mood and the general tone of the body.

Interesting! The very word "chocolate" came from the Aztecs, they called it "bitter water", which sounded like "chocolatl". The European Community rightfully appreciated it only after 1520. Only noble people could afford to drink a chocolate drink, sweetness was too expensive a product. They cooked it with the addition of water and sugar, drank it hot.

Flavoring features

Cocoa beans, depending on the place of growth, have not only different names, but also taste different from each other. They are conventionally divided into two types:

• "Noble" - has a variety of flavors, a special aroma and delicate texture;
• "Consumer" - characterized by a bitter taste, with a strong aroma.

The beans are very rich in composition. They contain fats, alkaloids in the form of caffeine, minerals, proteins and carbohydrates, organic acids.

High quality natural chocolate is not only tasty, it has a number of beneficial qualities:

• has antibacterial properties;
• strengthens the immune system;
• makes the mood cheerful.

Production

To work with raw materials, the beans are pre-processed. They are washed, sorted and fried. Then, after grinding and further processing, they turn into a liquid mixture, for further production a semi-finished product is prepared - grated cocoa. The product is obtained in the process of separating the grated beans and oil, the remaining cake is ground into a powder.

To obtain chocolate, certain components are required: cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, powdered sugar. Further, additional components are added to add flavor.The process consists in grinding the hard part of the beans, further adding oil and cooling to a certain temperature. The resulting mixture undergoes the formation of finished products in special machines.

Range

Chocolate products are divided into several categories based on the percentage of cocoa:

• not very bitter - cocoa is included in an increased amount, giving the product a slightly bitter taste, butter and powdered sugar;
• bitter - has a rich specific taste, it contains more than 70% of the main product, tiles are always fragile with a hard structure;
• the smallest amount of the main ingredient is added to the dairy product, only 30%. In its manufacture, cocoa butter, its powder, milk powder, icing sugar are used;
• white chocolate is called conditionally, due to the presence of cocoa butter in it. The main ingredient powder is not added to such a product at all. The composition also contains powdered milk, sugar and flavoring additives;
• a porous product is made in vacuum boilers by special preparation;
• new product - ruby ​​chocolate. It is prepared without using any dyes. It has a pronounced berry flavor and a rich pink hue. It uses beans grown in the regions of Ecuador, Brazil and Cote d'Ivoire;
• vegan, or vegetarian, prepared without adding butter and milk, it contains vegetable milk (almond, rice, coconut) and soy as a base;
• for people with diabetes, a special product is produced without added sugar; instead, sorbitol and other additives are included.

For every consumer today, you can find the appropriate type of chocolate or its product to delight yourself and cheer up.

The best brands of dark chocolate

The main component of chocolate is cocoa powder, in which the proportion of the main ingredient exceeds 55%.

Dove

The current owner of the Dove brand is the famous Mars corporation. But at the origins of this brand was once an immigrant from Greece, who in 1939 opened his own pastry shop in Chicago. Dove hit the shelves in 1956. Created according to the recipe of the owner of the outlet, it was immediately recognized for its excellent taste. However, in Russia, brand promotion was somewhat difficult. It is possible that this is due not only to the high price, but also to the consonance of the name of the product with the name of one well-known brand of soap. Although the consonance of the names is the only thing that unites them.

Produced using a unique patented technology. The goal of creating the Dove 75% recipe was to preserve the beneficial properties and taste subtleties to the maximum. In addition to the excellent taste and aroma, customers also note the exquisite exterior design. For 90 g, you have to lay out 110 rubles.

• inexpensive;
• exquisite exterior design.

• not.

The victory of taste

"Victory of taste 72%" - a product of the confectionery factory "Pobeda". In 2004, he won the title of "The Best Product of Russia", and his sugar-free version was included in the top 100 products of the country in 2016 and a silver medalist in "Innovation and Traditions" 2013.

Among the types of sweets produced by the "Pobeda" factory there is also porous, 57% sugar-free, 72% with the addition of orange slices. According to the reviews, it can be seen that buyers are attracted to these specimens by the taste, aroma and ratio of ingredients, when the sugar content is minimized, and the share of the main ingredient, on the contrary, is high.

Average cost: 150 rubles.

• buyers are attracted by the taste, aroma and ratio of ingredients;
• the sugar content is minimized, and the proportion of the main ingredient increases.

• not.

A. Korkunov

The former Russian brand is now owned by the Mars corporation, but production continues in Russia.The line of the brand contains the classics of dark chocolate: 55%, 70 and 72% bars, as well as with almonds and hazelnuts. The production technology excludes the use of palm oil.

This product has received a lot of positive feedback from customers. They all note a rich taste and aroma. They are also pleased with the convenient packaging, which is a beautifully designed cardboard case with an equally beautiful inner foil in which the black tile itself is wrapped, as well as the ease of breaking off the slices.

The average cost is 100 rubles.

• rich taste and aroma;
• production technology excludes the use of palm oil;
• beautifully designed cardboard case.

• not.

Lindt

This chocolate is an example of Swiss quality. Only the best beans are used for the production of products. The Lindt trademark always strives to maintain its corporate identity in everything, from the processing of raw materials, strict adherence to technological rules of production, giving the perfect appearance to chocolate bars and ending with the creation of its unique elegant packaging for the finished product. The dark chocolate of this trade mark is represented by the "Excellence" series, which includes samples with a content of the main ingredient of 70%, 85% and 99%.

Gourmets especially note the delicacy with 99% cocoa. Such a high content of the main ingredient, of course, fills the tiles with a rich taste and aroma. The composition contains dried berries and vanilla. Summarizing customer reviews, it should be noted that it is completely natural, high quality, excellent taste and no flaws. Consumers are not even confused by the price of the product.

The price for 100 g is approximately 250 rubles.

• complete naturalness;
• high quality;
• excellent taste.

• cost.

Best dark chocolate makers

The quality of products is characterized by the composition of the cocoa content, it should be over 40%.

Eco Botanica

Especially for people who support a healthy lifestyle, but do not deny themselves modest pleasures, the manufacturers of "Rot - Front" have developed the line "Eco - Botanica". These products are suitable for buyers who care about their health, the series contains beneficial extracts and vitamins. A large assortment is diluted with bitter, milky and dark tiles.

The huge selection is distinguished by the presence of chocolate with the addition of hazelnuts and stevia, orange and honey grass, vanilla. The manufacturer convinces in excellent quality, and also indicates a low percentage of carbohydrates, 4 times less than usual. The composition contains unique beneficial microorganisms (prebiotics) - oligofructose and inulin, which are soluble fibers.

The average price of one (90 g) is 120 rubles.

• low percentage of carbohydrates;
• high quality;
• useful composition.

• not.

Russia-Generous Soul

The domestic factory "Russia", founded in 1969, currently belongs to the company "Nestlé". Brand "Russia - a generous soul!" produces white, milk, as well as bitter and dark chocolate. There is a great demand for a huge assortment of dark “bars” with the addition of nuts, hazelnuts, almonds and cookies. The novelties are presented by a mixture of dark and white varieties with orange zest and hazelnuts.

The nobility of sweets is colored with rum notes and an attractive cocoa taste, in the process of which the best old recipes are used. Opened packaging, thanks to the adhesive edges, can be closed, while the freshness of the product is perfectly preserved. Customer reviews indicate a sufficient availability of nuts, excellent taste, moderate bitterness.

Price (90 g) - 85 rubles.

• natural domestic products with useful additives;
• wonderful taste and aroma of milk and coffee beans;
• hearty and tasty;
• gluten, moderately sweet, salt, egg white, cocoa powder content - 34%;
• undoubted pleasure for coffee lovers and lovers of chocolate delights;
• pleasant melting in the mouth;
• good feedback;
• acceptable price.

• absent.

Babaevsky

The famous to this day and operating Russian concern "Babaevsky" was founded in 1804. At the moment it is the United Confectioners holding. The visiting chocolate card of the manufacturer is high-quality dark chocolate of the highest brand, which contains only selected beans and butter, with hazelnuts, whole nuts, raisins, cinnamon flavor, citrus fruits, vanilla.

Grateful customers leave positive reviews, regardless of the variety of sweets. A wonderful combination of flavors. 100% quality and a guarantee of excellent sweet products. The latest innovations are black bars with the addition of prune pieces, which is a dietary product.

For 100 g, you will have to pay 100 rubles.

• pleasant aftertaste;
• melts in the mouth;
• the aroma of real chocolate;
• designer packaging;
• inexpensive price.

• too cloying taste;
• the presence of emulsifiers.

Ritter Sport

The Ritter Sport brand production took place in 1912 in Germany. And 1932 was marked by the first branded batch of square products issued. Thanks to this shape, chocolate does not tend to break if it is in your pocket. The company gained universal fame in 1970 and was recognized as worthy among other factories for the production of sweet masterpieces.

The most common black square is “Extra NUT”, filled with selected, lightly toasted, whole hazelnuts. The next bestseller among dark desserts was the energizing, invigorating square of elite beans (50%) grown in the fields of Nicaragua. Positive reviews are left by caring connoisseurs of the original dark delicacy. Its refreshing mint filling leaves the desire to re-experience the unique taste, as well as noble, slightly bitter, filled with marzipan and Californian almonds.
A 100 gram square will cost 98 rubles.

• rich assortment;
• convenient packing squares.

• not.

The best brands of milk chocolate

The delicate taste of milk chocolate is provided by the presence of condensed milk in its composition. Dessert is loved by both children and adults.

Nestle

The Nestle trademark has long been associated in the Russian market with bars and bars of sweet milk chocolate that melts in your mouth. The range of products manufactured by this company includes combinations of white and dairy desserts with almonds and waffles, with almonds and raisins, with hazelnuts, a pure classic version and other examples.

Customers note that Nestle products have a pleasant sweet, but not sugary taste. One of the most purchased products from Nestlé is hazelnut milk chocolate. It is distinguished by its abundant hazelnut content and convenient packaging.

Average cost - 111 rubles.

• pleasant sweet, but not cloying taste;
• abundant hazelnut content;
• convenient packaging.

• not.

Nesquik

The brand is owned by Nestle. Kwiki the Rabbit is one of the most recognizable advertising characters presenting sweet products for children. The name Nesquik itself is an abbreviation for "Nestle Quik"

Children love the taste and their parents appreciate the high calcium content and the absence of synthetic flavors, preservatives and colors.

Nesquik is distinguished by a high concentration of milk, the content of which in two dessert slices is equivalent to 50 ml. The assortment includes sweets stuffed with strawberries, wild berries and cereals. The portioned division of the squares is compiled in accordance with the norms of baby food. And the advertising rabbit is depicted not only on the packaging, but also on each individual slice.

Cost per 100 g: 95 rubles.

• portioned division of squares in accordance with the norms of baby food;
• rich assortment.

• not.

Alenka

"Alenka" has been known in Russia since Soviet times. Milk chocolate with this name began to be produced by the confectionery factories "Red October" and "Rot Front" in 1964. The product immediately fell in love with customers for its rich creamy taste. The name of the product comes from the name of the daughter of the first woman-cosmonaut on the planet Valentina Tereshkova. But the prototype for creating the image on the label was a photograph of another girl.

Today the brand belongs to the United Confectioners company. 20 varieties of "Alenka" chocolate products are produced. Among them there are samples with a creamy nut filling, hazelnuts, raisins, almonds, boiled condensed milk and other specimens. On store shelves the goods are in the form of traditional ingots and sticks weighing from 15 to 200 g. The novelty from the company "Vigorous recharging with granola" is already collecting positive feedback from customers.

100 g on average costs about 60 rubles.

• many new products;
• a rich assortment of filled delicacies.

• the composition of not all products under this name is ideal.

Milka

The homeland of the Milka brand is Germany, where the main production is located. Dessert appeared in the first half of the 19th century. But it got its current name only at the beginning of the 20th century, and it comes from the combination of two words: German Milch - milk, and Kakao. The now-branded Milka cow came out from under a designer pencil in 1972. Also, the packaging of this brand of milk chocolate is characterized by a purple background color and white lettering. Products with such labels appeared on the shelves of Russian stores in 2004.

Milka is presented in a wide range. In addition to the classic version, there are bars with hazelnuts and raisins, strawberries with cream, with coconut flakes, with salted cracker, with caramel filling, with wild berries and other fillings. The choice is really very rich, and the large number of lovers of Milka products is confirmed by the abundance of positive reviews from customers.

A 90-gram package of goods costs 120 rubles on average.

• presented in a wide range;
• excellent taste.

• not.

Best white chocolate

A distinctive feature of white chocolate is that it does not contain cocoa powder. The main components are cocoa butter, milk powder, sugar (sweetener).

Alpen gold

The well-known company "Alpen Gold" has been occupying a leading position in the Russian market since the 90s. The most popular is the white dessert of the American trademark with almonds and coconut. The "Max Fun" series dessert with the addition of orange, pieces of explosive caramel and figures of chewing marmalade also occupies a leading position.

Customer reviews are only positive. Even not particularly fierce fans of such sweets are completely satisfied with all the taste qualities. The whole secret is that there is much less pure chocolate in products in terms of percentage than natural nuts and coconut. In general, the composition is far from natural - there is the presence of emulsifiers (soy lecithin, E476) and flavoring additives. Despite all this, the taste is at a high level.

The average cost for a packaged branded product weighing 90 g: about 70 rubles.

• usefulness of components;
• not too high glycemic index.

• the presence of emulsifiers.

Schogetten

The Shogetten trademark is not sufficiently promoted on the Russian market. But those who have tasted the branded tiles at least once have no questions about the delicious sweetness. According to the preserved historical data, the plant was founded back in 1857, and the brand was founded in 1962. This chocolate has an improved feature - the manufacturer divides the ingot into 18 equal slices.

The whole series has excellent taste and aroma qualities.For those who prefer exclusively white chocolate, the brand produces classic (White Chocolate). Not without mixes. For example, a white, milky and dark dessert (Trilogia Noisettes) or strawberry wedges with white and dark chocolate splashes (Trilogia Strawberry). Seeing a half-open package, you immediately want to try. Reviews always emphasize that the ingot is wrapped inside with thin foil.

The average price per 100 g is 115 rubles.

• excellent taste and aroma;
• inside the ingot is wrapped in thin foil.

• not.

Air

Without a doubt, the best among the porous ones is the Russian-made dessert "Air". Concern "Kraft Foods" has been fruitfully working on its release since 2000. The assortment of the company includes porous dark, milk and white chocolate. This sweetness impresses with its light texture and countless miniature bubbles. Buyers prefer white bars, which is why they are the most sold. A good substitute for the classic white aerated chocolate is a bar with raspberry berry jelly and hazelnuts.

For a long period of time, the products of this brand do not change in taste. It shakes the sweet taste without excessive cloying. Based on the reviews, one can conclude that the sweetness will never get bored. This is taking into account the fact that the composition does not correspond to the ideal, in which the amount of emulsifiers and flavorings is exceeded. A significant plus in the package, it is closed with an original lock.

85 g will cost around 70 rubles.

• sweet taste without excessive sweetness;
• inside the tile is wrapped in thin foil.

• the composition does not match the ideal;
• excess amount of emulsifiers and flavorings.

What is the priority when choosing chocolate

The main criteria for determining good chocolate:

1. What it consists of. It is better to skip the addition of palm oil and lauric acid right away.
2. The minimum amount of ingredients is ideal. For example, cocoa, butter and sugar.
3. The excess amount of fat significantly reduces the shelf life.
4. For your own safety, it is better to purchase a sweet with a short shelf life. This will prevent the malfunction of internal organs, the appearance of allergic reactions and skin rashes.
5. The first sign of the highest quality of the product is smoothness and uniform color. White bloom is evidence of non-compliance with storage standards.
6. Good quality chocolate breaks down clearly in the fractional divisions. If the bar stretches, then this indicates an insufficient amount of cocoa and an excess of additives.

It's important to know! This information is not a fundamental guide to purchasing a product. It is better to clarify any question with the specialists of this industry.